This week's Student of the Week is Kelsey M! There she is... on the right!

There are so many things about Kelsey that I admire. So many, in fact, that I'm going list-style for this Student of the Week. Here we go...

1. Kelsey is no-nonsense and to-the-point. I mean this as a BIG compliment. She is not scared to speak her mind. This is a trait that many people (including me!) could definitely improve on. Kelsey has the self-confidence and the honesty to say whats so, how she feels, what she thinks. She's one direct and powerful young woman!
   Having said that...
2. Kelsey also has a big heart. She is friendly and thoughtful and kind. The sort of person who asks "how are you doing?" and you know she actually wants to know "how ARE you doing?". She means it! She cares!
3. Kelsey's authenticity is never in doubt; there is nothing fake about her. When she feels angry about something, she shows it. When she feels lighthearted she is quick with a laugh. When she is confused she does not try to "pretend" she understands. You always know where you stand with Kelsey (it's not so easy with many other people).
4. Kelsey is a hard worker. When Kelsey was in my PreCalculus 11 class last year, I was so impressed with how she gave a consistently strong effort throughout the entire course. Even after Chapters that did not necessarily go as smoothly as Kelsey was hoping / expecting, she would begin the next Chapter with total focus and determination. She was good at "putting the past in the past". Talk about an amazing skill to possess!!
5. Kelsey gets involved and gives back to her community. She spends lots of her time working with younger students in the West End. She is always quick to volunteer for scorekeeping (she's saved my butt on several occasions) as well as other clubs, committees, and teams.
6. Kelsey has an awesome family! Such a great bunch - those Moorheads! Wish there were a couple more in younger grades but - sadly - this is it! Thanks to the whole family for everything they did for KG over the past 8 years or so. You made a BIG difference around here!
7. Kelsey is an awesome C.S. student. So efficient! So accurate! Photocopying Queen! Appreciate all the help, KM!
8. Kelsey is super FUNNY! One of the best things about having Kelsey as my CS student is that I get to spend lots of time - and LAUGHS! - with her. Her sense of humour can be dry, cutting, sarcastic, clever... but always very, very funny!
9. Kelsey has a great vision for her future! Nursing! With her amazing pal Aya (see photo above)! Kelsey will be an amazing nurse (as will Aya)! Such a great fit. She's got the work-ethic, the big heart, the ability to stay in the present... all great skills for nursing (or ANY profession, to be honest).
10. Kelsey is a soccer star!! She has played at the Gold Level and on travelling teams all through high school. Invite me to a game, KM, I want to see you in action!

It's been so great to get to know you the past few years, Kelsey! I know that great things await you in the future. Never lose your ability to speak up, to work hard, and to laugh lots. I will miss you next year and I love you lots! Take care!

Even after accounting for intelligence, researchers found a strong link between executive functioning—the ability to plan, organize, and complete tasks—and proficiency in reading and math.
The study also shows that children who are higher in executive functioning demonstrate increases in levels of openness, intellectual curiosity, and confidence.

For math geeks like me, 2018 was a banner year: not only was it a year in which the field’s top prize was awarded, it was the only year in this century featuring days lining up with both the Golden ratio, an elegant proportion found throughout art and nature, and the mathematical constant e, which is at the core of calculus.
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But the mathematician in me also can’t help but note that the number 2,018 has some ominous properties: It’s deficient, meaning that the sum of all its positive divisors is less than itself. And it’s also odious, meaning that it has an odd number of ones in its binary expansion, 11111100010.

It's time! It's time! It's time for the Shazzy's! Time to count down the (okay, not "the" but "my") top albums of the year. Last year I expanded from 10 to 20 albums. This year I am going all the way to 25. A few more years (this is year FIVE!!) and I will be counting down the top 100 (unlikely). 

As always, these rankings are based on the albums I listened to the most this year. There were other albums I enjoyed a lot on first listen (looking at you Jack White, Nao, Sons of Kemet, etc) but - for whatever reason - I never listened to them many more times after. But the following 25 albums were the ones that I came back to again and again (and again...). 

Check 'em out and let me know what you think / what I missed. And check back next week for numbers 10 to 1!!

I'm not sure what my own rules are concerning EP's (are they eligible for the Shazzy's?? Hoping Izzy or Shami can make a judgement call on this) but I enjoyed this one lots! She just turned 20 this week but Mikaela Strauss has already turned heads (Harry Styles tweeted out her lyrics, Mark Ronson signed her to his label) and is already becoming the new face of "queer pop". Hoping for a full-length LP soon; lots to look forward to from this new, young artist.

With Beach House you know what you are going to get: dreamy, spacey, slow-moving waves of sonic beauty. But this might be their best album yet. Plus, I had to reward them a Shazzy for this alone (from Pitchfork): 

"their seventh album, simply called 7. The first single... came out on February 14 — 2/14, or two plus one plus four equals seven. The album brought their catalog to 77 songs, and the record’s initial issue number was 777."

Nice!

Take Justin Vernon (Mr Bon Iver) and add the main songwriter behind The National (Aaron Dessner)... how could this NOT be good?!? "Supergroups" never seem to work out well (Oysterhead, Chickenfoot, Velvet Revolver, etc) but this wasn't too bad at all. It's no classic (it's actually closer to making the "Disappointing list" than the top of the Shazzy's) but I enjoyed it and listened to it many times.

I'm a sucker for Iceland. The country itself is extraordinary (go! go! go!). And the music is amazing (Sigur Rós is my favourite band of all time. Plus, Björk! For a Minor Reflection! Kiasmos!). It's always so incredibly atmospheric and gorgeous and dreamy. This album is no exception. It's not going to be found in any dance clubs (or Top 40 charts) but if you are looking for an album to play in the background while you study or lull you to sleep at night... this might be what you want. It's experimental and it's amazing.

I award this album the "Zan's Unknown Album" award. Last year I gave it to Julie Byrne and this year Brandi Carlile wins for the album that my wife knows nothing about but will almost certainly love if / when she actually hears it. It's a little country, a little folk, a little pop... and a whole lot of beautiful.

Okay, it's kind of sad how she created this album - 15 songs, each exactly 1 minute long, each with its own unique video - so it was ready to easily share on social media. On the other hand, it IS a pretty novel concept. And, more importantly, the songs hold up! There are some real bangers (I'm too old to use that word, I know) here. The only complaint? You guessed it... too short! My brain is trained to enjoy 3 minute songs or (preferably) longer. No edits for social media next time, please, Ms Whack!

German weirdo DJ Koze makes sounds that you won't hear anywhere else. It's all so lush and well-produced. It's disparate, intriguing, and strange at times; lots of variety to enjoy on this album. You won't like all of it but I bet a least a few songs will amaze you!

Post-punk band from London that sounds like they should be topping the alternative charts in the early 1980s. Aggressive and angry, but with a sense of humour. I'm betting these guys are amazing in concert. C'mon, you guys are teenagers. This is the sort of music you SHOULD be listening to: angry and LOUD!

David Byrne is a living legend. From his time with Talking Heads, to his collaborations with Brian Eno and a host of Brazilian artists. This guy has done everything there is to do in popular music. But this year he did something incredibly daring: he chose to take a wildly optimistic view of the state of the world (talk about going against the norm!). It's infectious and compelling music. Plus, it led to one of the most amazing concerts that I have ever seen. Extraordinary!

Here's the rare album that I dismissed at first but - months later when I gave it another try - I fell in love with. Lucy Dacus has a wonderful voice and uses distorted guitars, horns, and strings to create a gorgeous palate over which to share her heartfelt lyrics with the world.

By this point, I don't know what is more impressive: the sheer amount of music that Father John Music puts out or the consistently high standard of said music. Either way, I'm thankful for Mr. (Josh) Tillman. My highest praise: I think I listen to his lyrics more than any other current artist (to be honest, I usually don't listen to the lyrics of music AT ALL!). The Bob Dylan of his time?!?

This is lo-fi, indie rock in all its glory. Sounds like three Australian women trying out songs in some kind of basement space. What makes it work? That voice!! Every word from lead singer Georgia McDonald comes from the heart. Even what I can't understand WHAT she is singing, I can tell that she MEANS it with every ounce of her being. Gritty, impassioned, and bad-ass!

This is one ANGRY band! They insist that they are NOT a punk band but I can't see any other way of classifying them. They've got the noise, they've got the rage, they've got the hooks. It's like Shame (#18 above) but with the intensity turned up to 11! Seeing these guys in concert would be some kind of religious experience! Count me in!

Biased against country music? Me too. But then you hear something like this and wonder: "what else am I missing by not listening to this genre?". What an extraordinary voice! What fantastic songs! It's all so vivid and bright and warm. To be fair, this is country music with a LOT of pop-like production but - whatever it is - I LOVE it!! 

The strangest album on my list this year. This is experimental music in every way. At times it is challenging, odd, ugly even. But there are moments of wonder and beauty too. It's hard to describe this music: primal, confusing, introspective, grand!

This week's Student of the Week is Sebastian V!

I remember when I first met Sebastian in grade 11. Ms Sidhu had told me "I think you will like this guy" so I was eager to get to know him. But I was taken aback in one of our first interactions. I can't remember exactly how it went but it was something like this:

Me: Hey, Sebastian. Can you please make sure you are on time next day?
Sebastian (smiling widely): Yes, Sir.
Me: Pardon me?
Sebastian: Yes, Sir. No problem, Sir.

My first thought was: "is this guy being a smart-aleck?". I mean, who calls their teacher "Sir" in this millennium? 

Well, it turns out that Sebastian is that guy. He uses "Sir" all the time. He thanks me warmly for any advice (or even criticism!) I give him. He takes everything at face-value. I'm not saying he is gullible but Sebastian is so trusting, so interested, so enthusiastic, so eager... it's pretty easy to lead him astray from time to time. 

But it's also super sweet. I'm not sure what the opposite of "cynical" is (hopeful? optimistic? undoubting?) but it would certainly describe Sebastian. And what a great trait to have! May you never lose that, Sebastian. Here's hoping you are still smiling widely, laughing, and bringing cheer to those around you for years and years in the future. 

Thanks for your kindness and your friendly nature, Sebastian. I have enjoyed teaching you the past two years and I wish you the best of luck in the future. I believe in you, Sir!!

Bum slipped off the seat. Hung on for dear life!

There are few things more humbling yet elating than the quest for new prime numbers. Researchers devote decades, and whole careers, to the identification of one more prime in the sea of digits. It’s easy to see the fascination, and why a significant part of the mathematics community is chipping away at infinity, one prime number at a time.

​The latest discovery is 282,589,933-1. Identified in Ocala, Florida on Dec. 7, it’s 24,862,048 digits long.